Cowaramup

Quinninup Lake Cave Co 1 The next area is Cowaramup, stretching between Ellensbrook and Quinninup Brook. This narrow belt of limestone has very little cave development that is known. Quinninup Lake Cave is one of the better known caves to visit. Situated near the beach at Quinninup, this cave is reached by a pleasant walk along the beach and across the sand dunes. A small colony of bats has been observed here for some years. This is quite important because this is the only known cave in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge in which bats have been recorded. The cave contains two small streams. One of these can be can be examined by climbing down through the entrance rockpile. The other is seen in the south-eastern section by looking down a hole under some flowstone. These streams seem to be at different levels and resurge some distance below the cave entrance to form a small lake. This lake is trapped behind the dunes and it is assumed that the water percolates beneath the sand into the sea. The cave is well known to the public and has suffered accordingly.

Members of WASG have recently embarked on a stalagmite repair program code named 'Operation Jigsaw', to repair the many vandalised (though in some cases naturally degraded) stalagmites in the main chamber of the cave.

Snake Pit Cave Co 6 Further to the north-east is Snake Pit Cave CO 6 which is believed to be part of the same system. Equipment is needed to descend the 23 m vertical entrance pitch. When the bottom is reached, a medium sized chamber is seen, its floor covered with sand and rocks.

Cowaramup Cave Co ? Cowaramup Cave is also worth a visit. A guide is needed to find this cave as very few people know its location. It is found in a valley within which a dune has arisen and through which a stream flows, forming a small but interesting cave containing a small waterfall.

Meekadorabee Cave Co 8 Another cave to inspect in this area is Meekadorabee Cave CO 8 situated on the Ellensbrook Stream. This is a good example of a cave which is formed by the action of a stream cutting through an arm of limestone overlying a valley. The entrance is well endowed with tufa and calcified rushes. A waterfall also flows over the entrance, seeping through the roof and forming an excellent display of cave pearls on the flowstone below. The trip through the cave is very wet but short as the cave is approximately 100 m long. The recently constructed walkways have somewhat reduced the aesthetics of the area particularly as the stairs go very close to the stream and eastern entrance of the cave. However to the uninitiated the area still has a lot of charm with its Peppermint Groves and Arum Lillies. It is worth walking to the beach to see the early historic property built by the Bussells which is now part of the national park. It is also a very pleasant walk in the direction of Milligan's Cave if you are interested in getting away from the crowds.